Stay Young Forever: A Root Cause Of Chronic Pain & How To Heal For Longevity | Dr. Howard Schubiner
Added: Feb 12, 2024
In this podcast episode, Dr. Howard Schubiner discusses chronic pain and the connection between pain and the brain. He highlights the increase in chronic pain cases, especially back pain, in the United States over the past 20 years. He explains that pain is not always caused by physical injuries and that the brain plays a significant role in generating pain.Key takeaways
Understand that pain is not always caused by physical injuries; the brain plays a significant role in generating pain signals.
Traditional pain management approaches often focus on symptom management rather than addressing the root cause of pain.
Explore treatment modalities like Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) and Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EET) to address chronic pain by reprocessing pain signals in the brain and addressing emotional factors.
Be aware of financial incentives and lack of awareness among medical practitioners contributing to the broken pain management system.
Practice self-compassion, self-care, and lifestyle changes to improve overall well-being and manage chronic pain effectively.
Understanding Pain and the Brain
Dr. Schubiner explains that pain is a signal generated by the brain to alert the body of potential threats. Not all injuries cause pain, and not all pain is due to injuries. The brain can activate pain signals in response to stress, emotions, or traumatic experiences. He emphasizes that all pain is real and should be taken seriously.
Issues with Current Pain Management Approaches
Dr. Schubiner discusses the three main models of pain management: biomedical, biopsychosocial, and symptom perception. He points out that the traditional approaches focus on managing pain rather than addressing the root cause. The biomedical model attributes pain to physical injuries, while the biopsychosocial model considers the role of the brain and emotions. However, the symptom perception model, which focuses on the brain's role in generating pain, is often overlooked.
Incentives in the Medical System
Dr. Schubiner highlights the financial incentives and lack of awareness among practitioners as factors contributing to the broken pain management system. He mentions how treatments like injections and surgeries may not always be effective if the underlying cause of pain is related to the brain rather than physical injuries. The emphasis on pain management rather than addressing the root cause can lead to ineffective treatments.
The Role of Emotional Trauma in Chronic Pain
Dr. Schubiner discusses the connection between adverse childhood experiences and chronic pain. He explains how emotional trauma can trigger the brain's danger signals, leading to persistent pain. By understanding the emotional and psychological factors contributing to pain, individuals can begin to address the root cause of their symptoms.
Steps to Address Chronic Pain
Dr. Schubiner outlines the steps individuals can take to address chronic pain. The first step is to understand how the brain generates pain and be open to the possibility that pain may be related to emotional or psychological factors. The second step involves assessing one's life experiences, including childhood trauma, stressors, and other illnesses. By identifying patterns and triggers, individuals can gain insights into the root cause of their pain.
Treatment Modalities
Dr. Schubiner introduces two treatment modalities, Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) and Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EET). These therapies focus on reprocessing pain signals in the brain and addressing emotional factors contributing to chronic pain. Additionally, he emphasizes the importance of self-compassion and self-care in managing chronic pain, as well as making necessary lifestyle changes to improve overall well-being.
Pain Reprocessing Therapy
PRT is based on the idea that the brain is responsible for turning on and maintaining pain signals. By changing how individuals respond to pain and focusing on positive thoughts and emotions, the brain can be trained to reduce or eliminate pain. Dr. Schubiner provides examples of individuals who have experienced significant pain relief by practicing PRT and shifting their mindset towards healing.
Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy
EET focuses on allowing individuals to express and release suppressed emotions in a safe and healthy way. Dr. Schubiner shares a personal story of how expressing anger and sadness helped him overcome back pain caused by a stressful event. By acknowledging and processing emotions, individuals can transform negative feelings into compassion and forgiveness, leading to pain relief.
Chronic Inflammation
Dr. Schubiner also addresses the role of chronic inflammation in chronic pain and other health conditions. While inflammation can contribute to various diseases, he believes that it is not the primary cause of chronic pain. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the root causes of pain, which are often related to emotional and psychological factors rather than physical inflammation. He encourages individuals to approach pain treatment with skepticism and explore holistic approaches that address the mind-body connection.
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